Spiel des Friedens

This extensive project was commissioned by the Landesmuseum LWL in Münster. Studio Fizbin was responsible for the entire development process, from the initial concept through to the final completion of the interactive installation. The basic idea was developed in collaboration with museum staff during a workshop led by Fizbin co-founder Sebastian Mittag.

In the permanent exhibition, which opened in September 2014, the game table explores the long-running peace negotiations that led to the ‘Peace of Westphalia’. The aim is for visitors to learn, in a playful and engaging way, just how complex and far-reaching such negotiations are. The core gameplay was intended to be a kind of card game, which was developed together with the museum during a one-day workshop before the project actually began. The ‘game area’ consists of eight joined, 46-inch displays, designed to represent the negotiating table itself. Each of the up to 10 players takes control of a historical envoy from the major powers of the time. Alternatively, a specially programmed AI takes control. Players can join or leave the game at any time; that is, the AI automatically takes over after a set period of inactivity. Each player uses an iPad as their input device.

In addition, two further iPads are set up at a separate ‘observers’ table’, on which non-players can follow the action in a ‘Facebook-style’ (‘Peacebook’) format. The envoys post pre-programmed ‘updates’ and comment on each other’s actions. Whilst this is pre-programmed and scripted, it creates a very lively impression. The game can be played entirely in German or English, and the language can be switched at any time depending on the input device. The players aim to expand their power and gain influence. This is tied to four different resources: gold, religion, status and land. Each envoy has different priorities. The end of the game – that is, the peace treaty – is brought about automatically. Whoever has accumulated the most power points by the end wins the game insofar as they have been able to achieve the most for their own faction. However, peace is brought about by everyone working together.

The DCP-Jury 2015